Steam accumulator plant



3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l 26 Ju y 1927 F. WETTSTEIN swam ACGUMULATOR PLAN:

Filed March 4. 1926 R N m J d R V f m, W T 6 a m V Z W% m I. Q b. f wll=l m m R, an M l w 6 I5 6 6 v V 46m. ninth V 1 m I! .WN\ :nN

AN N A Am MN NW \N My \r: Iv \N 1,637 066 July 26, 1927. F WETTSTEINSTEAM ACCUMULATOR PLANT Filed March 4, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR,E/7'2 Wf'TTJYEf/V.

BY WE'JWM @ATTORNEY Patented July 26, 1927.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRITZ WET'ISTEIN, OI- SUIIIT, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO RUTHS ACCUHULATOBCOMPANY, INCORPORATED, 01 NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

Sm AGUUIULATOB PLANT.

Application illed'Iarch 4, 1926. Serial in. 92,161.

My invention relates to steam plants and more particularly to steamaccumulator plants wherein there is a demand both for steam and hotwater.

5 The purpose of my invention is to provide an accumulator arrangementwherein the accumulator acts both as a steam accumulator and as a hotwater accumulator. As herein dealt with, steam accumulation is to beunderstood as meaning that process wherein steam is introduced into abody of water and condensed therein and steam is obtainedby flash fromthe body of water by mere drop of pressure whereby the difference in thelatent heat of vaporization at the higher ressure and that at thepressure to which the dy of water drops, serves to vaporize a portion ofthe body of water. By hot water accumulation, as herein dealt with, ismeant the accumulation of hot water and the withdrawal of hot water fromthe bodyof accumulation wherein the change in the body of accumulatingwater is, as the result of this action, merely one of volume. My invention has for its principal object to rovide an accumulator plantwherein th steam accumulation and hot water accumulation is effected inone accumulator or a set of accumulators operating in similar manner andwherein the whole operation is entirely automatic. My invention isparticularly adaptable to plants wherein the greater proportion of thevariations in load can be equalized by means of feed water accumulationwherein surplus steam or steam gener ated at a rate above a given baserate is used to heat hot water for boiler feed purposes which water isaccumulated at a variable rate, in accordance with the variations inamount of surplus steam, and is fed to the boilers at the rate demandedby the boilers which should be as nearly constant as possible to obtainthe best results.

My invention will be explained in detail with reference to theaccompanying drawferred, embodiment thereof, though it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the arrangement andconstruction of parts form wherein the function of the circulating pumpis assumed by the boiler feed ump.

Iteferring more particularly to Fig. 1, 10 designates a primary sourceof steam which may be one or more boilers of any type, fired in anydesired manner. Steam generated in boiler 10 passes through conduit 11and into conduit 12. Conduit 12 is the main steam supply conduit towhich any number of steam consumers may be connected. As one of theconsumers supplied from conduit 12, is shown a steam turbine 3 connectedto recerve steam from conduit 12 by way of con- (hut 14. The steamturbine 3 is, for purposes of illustration, shown as driving an electricgenerator 5.

steam is generated in boiler 10 at a rate Wl'llCh is independent of thedemand for steam'by the consumers connected to conduit 12. In operation,there will be, durmg the greater part of the time, a surplus of steamsupplied to conduit 12 over that consumed. is surplus of steampassesthrou and consequently a constant pressure in boiler 10 and aconstant pressure of supply for turbine 3. I have shown diagrammaticallyone form of over-flow valve, though it is to be understood that anytypeof valve operatmg to maintain a constant or approximately constantpressure in conduit 12 may be used for this purpose. In the illustrationgiven, the over-flow valve is regulated through the agency of pressureimpulses transmitted through tube 4 which is connected to conduit 12 andto a chamber 15 forming part of the valve mechanism. Changes of pressurein chamber 15 cause movement of diaphragm 16. Movement of diaphragm 16is transmitted to valve disks 17 by means of spindle 18. A spring 19serves to oppose the steam pressure in chamber 15.

Assume that the pressure in conduit 12 rises above a predeterminedvalue. Pressure lugs which show several, including a pre-..

then increases in chamber 15 whereupon valve disks 17 are moved toincrease the valve opening of valvt 13 and consequently increase theflow of steam therethrough so that more steam is releasgd from conduit12 and the pressure is retur ed to normal. On the other hand, if thepressure drops'below the given predetermined value, which is assumed tobe one within the regulating range gh over-flow valve 13 which operatesto mamtam a constant pressure in conduit 12 a of the valve, the pressuredecreases in cham- Steam passing through valve 13 is con-.

veyed by means of conduit 21 to chamber 22 wherein it is mixed with coldwater and condenses, thus serving to heat the cold water. This chamber22 I will herein term a heater. The heater is equi pad with bafles 23serving to more intimate y mix the steam and cold water and to give alarge surface of cold water for heating by the steam. Any form ofreceptacle mav be used in place of heater 22 and an internal arrangementof arts may be use provided it is built of su cient strength towithstand the pressure prevailing in the same and the effects of-introduction of hot steam and cold water.

Cold water is supplied to heater 22 through conduit 24 and by means ofpump 25. Conduit 24' is controlled by a regulating valve 27 presently tobe described. The hot water prepared in heater 22 flows through conduit26 and into accumulator 28 which consists of'a large vessel preferablyof cylindrical form and having spherical ends. This accumulator servesto store-hot water and steam.

An equalizing pipe 29 is provided extending between the steam dome 30 ofaccumulator 28 and the inside space of heater 22. The

purpose of this equallzing pipe is to allow the same pressure to prevailin the accumulator and in heater 22 and to permit flow of water bygravity from heater 22 to the accumulator.

Regulating valve 27 in conduit 24 1s responsive to and controlled by thepressure in the accumulator which is transmitted through tube 31. Theoperation of this valve is as follows: -A given pressure in theaccumulator holds the valve in a given position with a given amount ofvalve opening. Should the pressure increase above this given value,diaphragm 32 is flexed to the left, .as shown, against the action ofspring 33 and valve disks 34 are moved to the left, as

shown, to increase the flow of cold water through conduit 24. Havinggiven a certain rate of sup 1y of steam to heater 22, this increase ofow of water through conduit 24 means that a greater cooling efl'ect isproduced in heater 22, as a result of which colder water is pre ared andflows through conduit 26 so that t e pressure is reduced to the givenvalue. If, on the other hand, the pressure \should decrease below thegiven value, less cold water will be supplied to the heater-accumulatorsystem and the pressure will thus be increased a sin to the given value.Instead of regu ating valve 27 in response to variations of pressure inaccumulator 28 this valve may be regunuances lated by changes oftemperature since, where water is at boiling temperature as is the casewith the accumulator herein described, there is a definite relationbetween temperature and pressure. Valve '27 may be controlled bytemperature or pressure anywhere in the accumulator-heater system. Itmay be controlled by temperature in heater 22 as is illustratedin'subsequent modifications.

Water is extracted from the accumulator through conduit 35, by means ofpump 36, and forced through conduit 37 into heater 22. Pump 36 is shownas driven by a turbine 38 supplied with steam through conduit 39 fromconduit 12. It is also shown as being driven by a motor 40. Either ofthese primemovers or other prime-movers may be used to operate the pump.The pump is driven continuously and preferably at a rate which isindependent of actions and reactions within the heater-accumulatorsystem.

Pump 41 serves to withdraw hot Water from the accumulator and force thiswater into boiler 10 through 'conduit 42. For purposes of illustration Ihave shown the supply of feed water to boiler 10 controlled by a valve43 regulated by means of a float 44, though obviously this mechanism maybe replaced by any mechanism which will control the flow of water to theboiler or,

if desired, no mechanism for this purpose need be used. Hot water forother use may be withdrawn from the accumulator through conduit 64.

Steam may be withdrawn from the accumulator through conduit 45. Thissteam may be used for any purpose. In the illustration it is shown asbeing supplied to the low pressure stages of turbine 3. The-plant thusdescribed is intended to operate primarily to give constant pressuresand consequently constant temperatures in all parts of the system. Theplant operates in this manner so long as there is at least as much steamsupplied to conduit 12 as is consumed by the consumers connectedthereto. Should, however, there be a greater demand for steam than issupplied by the boilers (as determined by a given pressure), then steamis withdrawn from the accumulator to supply the deficiency in steamdemand. The withdrawal of steam from the accumulator may take placeautomatically. The with pressure in conduit 12 will rise to normal.

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As is obvious, the opening of the valve controlling conduit 45 may beeffected automati cally by a mechanism responsive to the speed ofturbine 3 or by a given drop of pressure in conduit 12.

When conduit 45 is open there is a drop of pressure in accumulator 28,as a result of which part of the Water contained therein is flashed intosteam. The drop in pressure which takes place in the accumulator causesa closure of valve 27 so that no cold water fiows through conduit 24.This efl'ect is desired since when steam is with-dra 11 through conduit45 valve 13 is closed and there is no steam supplied to heater 2wherefore there is no purpose in supplying cold water thereto. Thepressure in the accumulator thus drops and steam is supplied atcontinually dropping pressure until the peak of steam load is over andboiler 10 is capable of supplying the required amount of steam whereuponthe steam flow through conduit 45 is cut off. If desired, when such apeak in steam demand occurs, the boilers may be increased in output.

When, after a peak, steam flow through conduit 45 is cut off and'thereis a surplus of steam in conduit 12, valve 13 opens again. Now, however,since the pressure within the accumulator is below the value at whichvalve 27 is caused to open, no cold water will be supplied throughconduit 24 to condense the steam flowing into heater 22 through conduit21. There is therefore the danger that steam will blow through heater22, through conduit 26, and directly into the accumulator. This mightcause serious consequences to the accumulator unless special equipmentwere provided to take care of this contingency as, for example, theprovision of a distributing device within the accumulator having a greatnumber of small outlets. but it is for the purpose of eliminating suchstructures that the hot water prepared for storage in the accumulator isprepared in a separate receptacle. Iobviate the danger referred to bymeans of the circulating system including conduits 35, 37 and 26 and theheater 22, the accumulator and pump 36. It will be seen that thequantity of water to be pumped through conduits 35 and 37 by the pump 36is to be determined by the amount of steam which may be admitted toheater 22 through conduit 21 after a peakhas been taken care of by theaccumulator. The water pumped through conduit 37 serves to condense thesteam entering through conduit 21 and thus there is always a flow ofwater through conduit 26. It will be noted that water for thiscirculation is extracted from the lower part of the accumulator where itis somewhat cooler than the temperature corresponding to the steampressure of the upper part of the accumulator. In

case some steam should be carried along with the water through conduit26 this will do no harm where the main portion of the column flowingthrough conduit 26 is made up of water.

It will be seen from the above description that it is unnecessary forwater to be pumped through heater 22 when cold water is belng forcedthrough conduit 24. For this reason, if desired,'there may be employedthe arrangement shown in Fig. 2. The parts in spring 50 to increase thevalve opening of valve 46. Increase of temperature within theaccumulator causes an expansion of liquid in bulb 51, tube 52, andchamber 53, which acting on diaphragm 54, in opposition to spring 55,causes a decrease of flow opening through valve 47.

In main, the modification of Fig. 2 operates in the same manner as themodification of F 1g. 1. The differences in operation are as follows:\Vhen the pressure and tempera- .ture in the accumulator are at or neartheir normal working value, that is when the accumulator is notdischarging steam and is charged to such a degree that valve 27 is inoperation, valve 47 is kept closed by the action of the fluid in bulb51, tube 52, and chamber 53. Now assume that there is a peak demand forsteam and it becomes necessary to withdraw steam from the accumulator.The temperature in the accumulator drops upon withdrawal of steamtherefrom. This drop in temperature has the tendency to allow steam toflow through conduit 39 by opening valve 47. It would however be of nopurpose to circulate water through heater 22 when the temperature in theaccumulator is low due to a withdrawing of steam because at such timethere is no supply of steam to heater 22. At such time, furthermore.there is a low value of pressure in conduit 12. This low value ofpressure is utilized to keep conduit 39 closed so that steam energy willnot be used for a useless purpose. When the pressure in conduit 12 islow, as indicated. the force of spring 50 overcomes the pressure on theupper side of diaphragm 49 and valve 46 is thus kept closed so long asthe pressure in conduit 12 is lower than that pressure at which overflowvalve 13 begins to open or a somewhat lower value. Obviously any of thevalves may be arranged to be adjustable to giveany desired degree andvalue of regulation.

Now assume that the peak of demand is ill over and conduit 45.is againclosed. The

pressure in conduit 12 now rises. When this pressure has risen to such avalue that valve 13 begins to open, valve 46 either begins to open or isalread opened. It will be understood that it is pre erable to open valve46 at a somewhat lower value of pressure than that at which valve 13opens so that water will be forced into heater 22 before steam entersthe same. Upon opening of valve 46, with a low temperature in theheater-accumulator system, so that valve 47 is open, pump 36 is put intooperation and water is circulated through conduits and 37, into theheater 22 where it condenses the steam entering the same from conduit 21and through conduit 25 back to the accumulator. The introduction ofsteam into the heater-accumulator system causes a rise of temperatureand pressure and when the temperature in the accumulator has risen tosuch a degree that valve 27 begins to function, then valve 47 is closedby the expansion of fluid in bulb 51 and the circulation through theheater is again stopped.

In the modification of Fig. 2, there is a further difference in thatvalve 27, instead of being controlled by pressure, iscontrolled bytemperature and. instead of being controlled bv pressure in theaccumulator, is controlled by temperature 1n heater 22. This will notalter the OPGIHtlOIh in principle, since, as above explained, there is adefinite temperature for each given pressure in the accumulator and thepressure, and consequently the temperature 18 equalized in theaccumulator and heater by means of conduit 26 and tube 29. There may bea, slight difference in operation in that steam entering heater 22 mayheat the thermostat bulb '57, which is the temperature responsiveelement operating valve 27, even though the temperature is low in theaccumulator. This effect is not objectionable but, on the other hand.desirable as it may cause a su ply of water to heater 22 at such time.ulb 57 is connected with a diaphragm chamber in valve 27 by means oftube 58. The interior of one form of valve for the purpose may beconsidered similar to that shown in Fig. 1. Increase of temperature inheater 22 causes expansion of fluid in bulb 57, tube 58 and in thechamber adjacent the valve diaphragm, as a result of which valve 27closes or tends to close.

In the modification of Fig. 3, pump 36 is dispensed with and itsfunction is taken over by the boiler feed pump 41. A.b\'-

pass connection 60 extends from boiler feed line 42 at a point betweenthe feed pump and the feed control valve 43 to the heater 22 and thewater pumped by pump 41 is thus fed partly to boiler 10 and partly toheater 22, whence it returns to accumulator 28 through conduit 26.

In plants where the heater 22 and the accumulator are at lower pressurethan the boilers, as in the modification herein descrlbed, it isnecessary to place a restriction in by-pass connection 60. Thisrestriction maintain a constant temperature in .the accumulator .whichis an advantageof great importance. v 7

While it appears that the arrangement according to Fig. 2 is moreeconomical than the other arrangements I believe that the saving inpower and steam obtained by this arrangement is not suiiicient toofi'set the complication of the system by the addition of regulators andtherefore I prefer the arrangements wherein there is a continualcirculation, although as I have stated the arrangement according to Fig.2 may be used if desired. 7 v

I wish it understood that, as used in the appended claims, the termsource of steam is not to be limited to an ultimate source such as asteam generator, but may be, for

example, any part of a steam line delivering steam toany other part of asteam line or a machine.

While I have described more or less in detail certain modifications ofthe invention, it will be understood that the invention is not to belimited to the specific parts and arrangements of parts described,butthat various other plant arrangements are possible and readilyapparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention belongswhich embody the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a source oi steam, a

cold water into said heater, means to conduct water from said heater tosaid accumulator,

said heater, means to conduct water from said heater to saidaccumulator, means to conduct water from said accumulator to saidheater, means to conduct Water from said accumulator to said boiler andmeans to withdraw steam from said accumulator.-

5. In combination, a source of steam, a heater, an accumulator, means toconduct steam from said source to said heater, a circulating systemincluding said accumulator and said heater, means to introduce coldwater into said heater, and an equalizing pipe extending between saidheater and said accumulator.

6. In combination, a source of steam, a heater,v an accumulator, meansto conduct steam from said source to said heater, 2. heater-accumulatorsystem including said heater, said accumulator and circulating meansbetween the same, means to introduce cold water into theheater-accumulator sys tem, means to control the introduction of coldwater in response to variations in heat conditions of theheater-accumulator system, and means to utilize the stored contents ofthe accumulator.

7. In combination, a source of steam, a heater, an accumulator, means toconduct steam from said source to said heater, means to circulate waterbetween the heater and the accumulator and means to control the rate ofcirculation in response to variations in pressure of steam in saidsource and in response to variations of temperature in said accumulator.

8. In combination, a source of steam, a heater, an accumulator, means toconduct steam from said source to said heater, means to supply coldwater to said heater, means to conduct water from said heater to saidaccumulator, a conduit to conduct water from said accumulator to saidheater, means to conduct steam from said accumulator for use, means toconduct water from said accumulator for use, means to control the supplyof cold water to the heater, said means being inactive when the pressureand temperature in the accumulator is below a given value, and means tocause flow of water through said conduit from the accumulator theretofrom the source, and to prevent flow through said conduit whenthepressure and tem rature in the accumulator is above a pr etermmedvalue and cold W ter i HP- plied to said heater.

9.In combination, a source of steam, a heater, an accumulator, means toconduct steam from said source to said heater, means to circulate waterbetween the heater and the accumulator and means to control the rate ofcirculation in response to variations in pressure of steam in saidsource.

10. In combination, a source of steam, a heater, an accumulator, meansto conduct steam from said source to said heater, means to circulatewater between the heater and the accumulator and means to control thetrate of circulation in response to temperaure.

11. In combination, a steam boiler, a heater, an accumulator, a passagefor steam from said boiler to said heater, an over-flow valve n saidpassage, a heater-accumulator system including said heater and saidaccumulator, means to conduct water from said heater to saidaccumulator, a conduit to conduct water from sald accumulator to saidheater, a pump 1n said conduit, means to conduct energy to said pump todrive the same, means to supply cold water to the heater, means to cutoff the supply of cold water when the temperature in theheater-accumulator system falls below a predetermined ""value, means towithdraw steam from the accumulator for use, means to withdraw hot waterfrom the accumulator for use, an equalizing pipe extending between theheater and the accumulator, means to cut off the supply of energy to thepump when the temperature in heater-accumulator system is above apredetermined value' and means to cut oil the supply of energy to thepump when there is no flow through the over-flow valve.

12. In combination, a source of steam, a heater, an accumulator, a pump,means to supply cold water to said heater, means to conduct waterfrom'said heater to said accumulator, a conduit for conducting waterfrom said accumulator to said pump and a conduit for conducting waterfrom said pump to said heater, and means to bring steam from said sourceinto contact with the water in said heater.

13. In combination, a source of steam, a heater, an accumulator having ahot water space, means to conduct hot water from said heater to saidaccumulator, means to introduce coldwater into said heater, a conduitconnected to said hot water space of said accumulator and to said heaterfor conducting hot water from said'hot water space to said heater andcirculating means interposed in said conduit, and means to bring steamfrom said source into contact with the water in said heater.

14. In combination, a source of steam, a heater, an accumulator having ahot water space, means to conduct hot water from said heater to saidaccumulator, means to introduce cold water into said heater, a conduitconnected to said hot water space of said accumulator and to said heaterfor conducting hot water from said hot water space to said heater and apump interposed'in said conduit, and means to bring steam from saidsource into contact with the water in said heater.

15. In combination, a source of steam, a heater, an accumulator, meansto conduct steam from said source to said heater, 9. heater-accumulatorsystem including said heater, said accumu ator and circulating meansbetween the same, means to introduce cold Water into the heater system,a valve to control the suppl of cold water in response to variations 0fluid conditions in the heater-accumulator system and operating tomaintain constant pressure and temperature therein, and means to utilizethe stored contents of the accumulator. v

16. In combination, a source of steam, a heater, an accumulator, meansto conduct steam from said source to said heater, a heater-accumulatorsystem including said heater, said accumulator and circulatmg meansbetween the same, means to introduce cold water into the heater system,a valve to control the supply of cold water in response to variations oftemperature in said heater and means to utilize the stored con-.

tents of the accumulator.

17. In a steam lant, in combination, a source of steam, a heater, anaccumulator, a

assage for steam from said source to said heater, means to introducecold water into said heater and to mix the cold water with the steam toform hot water in the heater, a conduit connecting said heater with thelower part of said accumulator for conduct heater, means to introducecold water said heater and to mix the cold water wlth the steam to formhot water in the heater,

ing hot water from said heater to said accumulator, a conduit connectingsaid accumulator with said heater and circulating means in the lastmentioned conduit.

19. The method of generating and dispensing steam in a steam plant whichcomprises generating steam at a difierent rate than the rate of heatconsumption, condensing surplus generated steam by means of cold waterto produce hot water, accumulating hot water thus produced, andcirculating hot accumulated water into contact with the surplusgenerated steam.

20. The method of generating and dispensing steam in a steam plant whichcomprises generating steam at a difierent rate than the rate of heatconsumption, condensing surplus generated steam by means of cold waterto produce hot water, accumulating hot water thus produced, and,simultaneously with the condensation of steam b cold water, circulatinghot accumulate water into contact with the surplus generated steam.

21. In combination, a source of steam, a

heater, an accumulator, a passage for steam from said source to saidheater, means to conduct water from said heater to said accumulator andseparate conduits for conductin cold water and accumulated water to saidheater. i

22. The method of generating and dispensing steam in a steam plant whichcomprises generating steam at a different rate than the rate of heatconsumption, condensin surplus generated steam by means of co d water toproduce hot water, accumulating hot water .thus produced, andcontinuously circulating hot accumulated water into contact with thesurplus generated steam.

23. In combination, a source of steam, a heater, an accumulator, meansto conduct steam from said source to said heater,'means to circulatewater in a complete c cle between and through the heater and t eaccumulator and means to cut off the circulation when the pressure ofsteam in-said source falls below a predetermined value.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my:

signature. A FRITZ WETTSTEIN.

